Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-03-04
htsrellaf,egns.
In Aid of Maine Agriculture.

Hull olullOu Jill, tACo oSAOAN
and used our best endeavors to urge its
importance and its passage upon our own
delegation in Congress. The bill has now
passed both houses and only awaits the
Presidents signature to become law.
In all probability there will be little delay
in this. as we think from Mr.. Cleveland's
action in signing the oleomargarine bill,
he will give the present bill his signature
at the earliest possible opportunity.
The measure is one of great Importance,
and supplements in the most liberal man.
ner the Morrill, bill OF 1862 which estab-
lished a college of agriculture and me-
chanic arts in every state in the Union.
But it Twas not any part of the scheme OF
industrial education contemplated by the
en- dowment Of our agricultural colleges
that they should undertake experimental
work OF any kind. Their scope was edu-
cationa, and it was left to the several
states in which those colleges were locat-
ed to say to what extent practical agrlcul-
tural operations should be carried on, and
whether the farm connected with such
colleges should be large or small, or
VIII ether they should have none at all.
But in the twenty years that have passed
sinces the colleges established by the
Morrill, bill have been in operation, great
ch anges have been wrought in the scienti'
fc phases of purely practical agrlcul'
tural questions. Science has given
vigorous aid to agricultural work.
Thelcrude experimenting of those days
was atrifling compared with the intricate
problems in fertilization. cattle feeding.
dairy economy, seeding, ETC., which now
receive attention from some of the first
scientists OF the age. And while the
COLLEGES were called to educate in the
direction of those branches of learning
hich would have the closest bearing upon
agricultural and industrial pursuits. no
money was at hand for much needed ex'
periments bearing upon profitable crop
ping, feeding, fertilizing, etc.
This work has been left to be provided
for by the Hatch bill. 1t is a splendid
recognition OF the grandeur of our agri-
cultural resources, and is one of the few
instances wherein the national govern
ment has realized the importance OF foster
ing, encouraging and developing our
immense agriculture through liberal APP
preparations for actual experimental farm
work. 1t gives to Maine after the LIST OF
July next the sum of fifteen thousand
dollars annually, to be expended in agri.
cultural experiments under the direction
Of the managers of our State College at
Orono. To properly carry out the pro.
visions of the bill an enlarged force will
be necessary at the college, some of its
features will be changed or rather en-.
larged, and the scope of the institution
will be greatly augmented. 1t will be-
come more practical; it will do work
more directly pertaining to our agri'
cultural operations it will benefit more
closely our real working farmers.
From what we know of the scope of the
bill there appear to be three lines of work
in which the effort of the station will oe
naturally directed. The first may be called
the laboratory work. This will en-
brace, without doubt, the inspection anc
control of fertilizers, or at least the analy
sis OF commercial or chemical measures tC
ascertain their cash value. Then in add
ton to what pertains to fertilizer analysis
there are scores and scores of substances
milk, foods, seeds, etc, which will be sub
ject to laboratory tests. and will furnish aI
abundant supply of material for examina
ton. Second, may be embraced the va
rious feeding tests with the differen
farm 'animals, comp ehended under th,
general subject of animal nutrition
subject sabout which our farmers know
little, and in which experiments are great
ly needed. We are feeding various sub
stances to different domestic animals
What their feeding value is. what is
suitable ration of each for animals Of diff
ferent ages and in different conditions, w
do not know. 1t is necessary that farmer
should know these things to certainty
for great source of profit on the farm
comes from judiciary and economics
feeding. There is sufficient work in thi
one line alone to keep our experiment
station well employed tor many years t.
come Under the third division of wor
will be embraced all experiments pertain
ing to field practice, seeding, cropping
fertilizing, trials with different varietie
of seeds, tests of different method
of planting or seeding, as thick or thin
different methods of covering seeds a
various depths, best conditions for germ
nation OF seeds, trials with new varietie
of fruits, plants, seeds, ETC., adaptation o
certain varieties to different soils-wh
we hardly know where to stop in thi
enumeration of work to be done and ex
periments to be tried in the field worl
alone, to say nothing OF that in the othe
two divisions. What a force of traine,
workers and helpers will be needed here
and what grand work may be mappe,
out for our Maine station to undertake